29

We flash out of emergency hyperspace into the unknown system

"So, Miss Tel'te, where are we?" I ask as she focuses on her console.

"The nav computer is working through it now."

I nod and relax around my pillar, activating the drones' launch sequence and imputing a search pattern, "While we do that, how about we send the Crows out to take a look

As the launch bays open, the Crows eject into space and accelerate away from the ship in a spherical pattern.

Tel'te nods, "Right you are. They may locate some mineral lots that we can mark and sell."

I shrug my wings, "I was thinking more that it would give them some actual flight time instead of simple simulations just to make sure that they work when needed."

The last week in hyperspace I spent mostly trying to keep busy and trying to keep from worrying. A worried Captain makes for a worried crew. It's like having a pet. They can feel your unease.

Also effort was spent trying to keep my chief engineer from getting herself killed. After working on the hyperdrive 36 hours straight, I pretty much had to drag her out of there and into Tel'te's quarters, telling her not to let Sarah out again for at least 12 hours.

I think it worked. At the very least, I think she is sticking to 16 hours shifts. Why that woman is not leading a major design department at a major shipyard, I have no idea.

"I know where we are, Skipper." Tel'te spoke up a few minutes later, "We are at N'x'e melt. It's an uninhabited system that was never seen as anything really important. Never even had a mining colony in it since it's low on useful minerals."

Shaking my head a shrug "Oh well, might as well let the Crows work on it. Not like we have anything else to do while our intrepid engineers work on getting us out of here. Take us into orbit around...say the third planet." I say before I pull my game up.

Ten hours later, I am in my cabin getting some sleep when my intercom beeps. I grumble and press the button, "Captain here."

"Commander Swan, Bridge. The Crows have found something."

I blink and force myself off of the soft, soft pillows "What is it?"

"We don't know. Range is to big. They are moving in now, but it's artificial", she answers as I yawn.

"I'm on my way, Commander", I say and then close the connection before making my way to the bridge.

I enter and spot Cormac in the piloting seat, Swan in the XO seat, and Melton in the com seat - meaning she already called the main bridge crew to stations. I give them a nod before coiling around the pillar and bringing up the feed from Crow-18.

The view slowly grows and focuses on a metal object in the ring around the fourth planet, a gas giant. After watching the crow approach it for almost ten minutes while searching through the database for a match, it suddenly beeps signifying that it can identify the object.

It's a Praetorian class frigate.

Cormac blinks at his console, "What in the..."

Jack Melton nods, "Got to agree there. That thing was in service almost four thousand years ago, if I know my ships right."

We watch the Crow slowly circle the ship as it is joined by its brothers, giving us views from all directions. Other than some burns on the engine section and a missing com array, it looks intact.

I tighten softly around the pillar, "Mr. Cormac, plot an intercept course. Put us up alongside her. I think we just have hit pure sabacc. I want that ship."

Old or not, even if it's only as scrap or for historical value, that ship is worth a fortune. Plus, its database might contain all sorts of wonderful treasures.

According to the database, the Praetorian class frigate is equipped with a class 2 hyperdrive, slower than the 1.5 on the star shuttle but still fast for it's time period. Also, it can carry over ten times as much cargo as a starshuttle while unmodified, and over 27 times as many passengers.

Mine.

I want.